> It's not dishonest. It's controlling the debate from a position of power and righteousness.

Thank you for writing this. I've really been feeling the same way. Not very many people understand group psychology and they argue and fight in ways which are self-defeating.

We are not even fighting deeply irrational people, mostly they are smart rational people employed by big industry and taught the simple fact: appealing to people's emotions and unconscious mind is the foremost way democratic decisions are won.

It might be an awful truth but it is reality and a rational person must therefore accept it or face defeat over and over again.

I hope you and others do something great with this insight.